The free and public event will take place at 4 p.m. in the McCormick Tribune Center Forum, 1870 Campus Drive on the Evanston campus. A reception and refreshments will follow.

During her distinguished journalism career, Ifill has reported on Washington politics for NBC News, The New York Times and The Washington Post as well as the Public Broadcasting Service. The best-selling author of â€œThe Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,â€ she has covered six presidential campaigns. In 2008, she moderated the debate between vice presidential candidatesU.S. Senator Joe Biden and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Established in 1981, the Minow Visiting Professorship in Communications at Northwestern University allow a distinguished member of the communications field to visit Northwestern and exchange ideas with students and faculty.

â€œGwen Ifill brings a wise perspective from years of witnessing our government, our politicians and our media in action in the nationâ€™s capital,â€ said Newton N. Minow, who established the lecture with his wife, Josephine Baskin Minow. â€œIfill knows the difference between noise and news, and we are lucky to have her teach our students the highest standards of journalism.â€

For more information on the lecture sponsored by the Medill School of Journalism, call (847) 491-5401, e-mail jpgilbert@northwestern.edu or visit http://www.medill.northwestern.edu.

Chicago, ILÂ â€“ Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to launch an investigation into Illinois Senate candidateAlexi Giannouliasâ€™ claim of a $2.7 million tax write-off, citing Giannouliasâ€™ inability to prove he worked 500 hours in 2006 and the discovery of another inconsistency in Giannouliasâ€™ previous statements.

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After telling the Chicago Sun-Times he left Broadway Bank in September 2005, Giannoulias told the Chicago Tribune yesterday that he actually kept working at the bank through May of 2006, thereby qualifying him for a $2.7 million tax write-off for 2009.Â However, Giannoulias could not provide details or documentation to prove his 2006 work schedule telling the Tribune,â€œI don’t know how the hours worked out, but it wasn’t a full-time job.â€

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Giannouliasâ€™ most recent statement is further contradicted by Giannouliasâ€™ appearance before the Sun-Times editorial boardin December 2009 when he claimed he â€œleft the bankâ€ by the time news broke about Broadway Bank loans to mobsters in March 2006.

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â€œAlexi Giannouliasâ€™ story has changed so many times that unless he can provide documentation showing that he worked at Broadway Bank for 500 hours in 2006, the Internal Revenue Service should launch an immediate investigation,â€ Chairman Brady said.Â â€œWe are talking about a huge sum of money and the IRS should not accept â€˜just trust meâ€™ as a legitimate explanation.Â With 34 days left before we elect a United States Senator, it is time for Alexi to start explaining.Â Either he lied to the voters or he lied to the IRS.â€

“Congressman Kirk is bringing in the Republican brass to do his dirty work because he doesn’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to telling the truth,” said Alexi for Illinois campaign spokesman Scott Burnham. “Mark Kirk can’t get his facts straight when it comes to his own record so it’s no surprise that he and his buddies are spewing outright lies about Alexi’s past in the final weeks of the campaign.”

It has been well documented that Giannoulias left the day-to-day operations at Broadway Bank in September 2005 as he prepared to run for Illinois State Treasurer. During that time, he did not bring in any new business or take on new clients while he was finishing up his work. He left the bank entirely in May 2006 to campaign full time.

Furthermore, Giannoulias released his tax returns for the past five years nearly a year ago, which show that he worked in 2006.

Giannoulias has made it clear that he was not part of the day-to-day operations at the bank after late 2005 and left the bank entirely in 2006 as several media outlets have reported:

“To be fair, it is no secret that Giannoulias’ tenure at the bank extended through 2006. He reported income from the bank in his 2006 income taxes, which he released last November. That income and the fact that he left in May 2006 also have been reported by news outlets before last summer.” [Chicago Sun-Times editorial 9/30/10]

“â€¦.we did check the Fox Chicago archives, among the reference we found his work at the bank, including statements he made, all of them indicate he left the bank in 2006.” [Fox NewsChicago 9/29/10

“He left his job at Broadway in May to focus on his campaign.” Â [American Banker, 9/18/06]Â

“The loan documents don’t list Rezko as an owner, and the transaction took place five months after Mr. Giannoulias says he left the bank’s day-to-day affairs so he could run for Illinois treasurer.” Â [Washington Times, 8/20/10]

Â ” Alexi left daily operations of the bank in September of 2005, months before this loan was made,” says Kathleen Strand of his campaign staff. “He had no knowledge of it, and his name is not on any documents related to the loan.'” Â [Chicago Sun-Times, 8/2/10]

“And he claimed although he had been a senior loan officer at the bank, when he left four years ago, the bank “was one of the best-performing in Illinois.” Â [Chicago Sun-Times, 4/24/10]

“Giannoulias notes that 90 percent of the underperforming loans that have helped sink the bank were made after he left four years ago.” Â [Sun-Times, 4/23/10; UPI, 4/23/10]

“Giannoulias, the first-term state treasurer, left the bank in 2006. He said less than 9 percent of bank’s nonperforming loans originated during his time at Broadway.” Â [Clout Street, Chicago Tribune, 1/31/10]

“Giannoulias was chief loan officer at Broadway from 2002 through 2006, when he left to run for treasurer.” Â [Chicago Tribune, 1/29/10]

“Giannoulias’ bank salary was $112,000 in 2005 but dropped to $41,000 in 2006 when he left the bank to campaign. He made about $101,570 from his treasurer’s salary in 2007 and about $116,590 in 2008.” Â [Chicago Tribune, 11/26/09]

Chicago, ILÂ – A coalition of African-American ministers from throughout Cook County voted on Thursday to endorse Democratic candidate for Assessor, Joseph Berrios.

“Joe Berrios represents everything we need in our next Assessor,” said Bishop Claude Porter. “He will correctly assess properties, and work with the minority communities to make sure we are treated fairly, and more importantly, equally.”

Porter, chairman of the Proviso Ministers Alliance Network, led Thursday’s vote among the ministers during a meeting at Roditys restaurant in Greektown.

Berrios, who won the Democratic primary in February, said he was proud and honored to be endorsed by the group.

“This is a key endorsement for me because it represents a large community in Cook County,” Berrios said. “They’re showing the faith that I won’t forget their communities. Throughout this campaign I have met with their constituents to hear their concerns about property taxes, and that’s something I will continue to do once I’m elected.”

Robert Shaw, who ran against Berrios in the February primary, also attended. He encouraged the ministers to talk to their constituents and urge them to vote on November 2nd.

“I went up against Joe Berrios in the primary, but that was an in-house Democratic fight. Now, we’ve come together and I’m with him, and I plan to work day in, day out to get him elected. He’s going to win.”

If elected, Berrios, currently a commissioner on the Cook County Board of Review, would be the first minority Assessor. He was the first Hispanic state legislator when he became a member of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1982, where he served three terms. He is also the first Hispanic to serve as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party.

Berrios noted that he has been campaigning throughout Cook County – not just on the north side.

“This race isn’t all about the north side,” Berrios said. “This is about Cook County as a whole.”

Recession has worried Pittsburgh residents making long-term changes to manage their finances

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Pittsburgh, PA (BlackNews.com) — Pittsburgh residents say the economic recession and choppy recovery have changed for the long term how they handle their finances. Diminishing optimism for the recovery has forced many to take a more hands-on approach to planning for a brighter financial future. To help, Nationwide Insurance is partnering with author and broadcaster Tavis Smiley to bring its On Your Side Tour with Tavis Smiley, a free financial empowerment workshop, to Pittsburgh on October 9 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The need to address financial literacy and financial planning – including African-American households in Pittsburgh – is highlighted in a new survey commissioned by The Smiley Group and Nationwide Insurance that shows the recession has impacted how Americans are preparing themselves for the future.

Positive Changes

According to the survey, African Americans in Pittsburgh have made more positive changes in the past year than the general population as a result of the economy, including creating a household budget (40 percent to 24 percent), cutting back on eating out and entertainment (67 percent to 55 percent), and delaying non-essential purchases (60 percent to 45 percent).

Hard Times in the Steel City

Eighteen percent of African Americans in Pittsburgh surveyed say they are unemployed, compared to 8 percent of the general population. Nearly half of African Americans in Pittsburgh (47 percent) say they have a household income less than $35,000 a year before taxes, compared to 18 percent of the city’s general population.

The majority of African-American (87 percent) and general-population (94 percent) respondents in Pittsburgh remain at least somewhat worried about the economy. Twice as many respondents believe their financial condition has worsened in the past year than those who feel it has improved. Many don’t believe it will improve over the next 12 months (47 percent African Americans and 58 percent general population).

Other survey findings of concern in Pittsburgh:

* 38 percent of African Americans are unable to pay all household bills (compared to 19 percent of general population).
* 18 percent of African Americans say their employer has reduced their hours (12 percent of general population).
* 11 percent of African Americans took a loan from their 401(k) (6 percent of general population).
* 35 percent of African Americans are struggling with credit card debt (28 percent of general population).
* 41 percent of African Americans are not confident they will have enough money to live comfortably throughout their retirement years, compared to 33 percent of general population.

“The results of the survey underscore that Americans in Pittsburgh – black and white – are struggling to emerge from this downturn on their feet,” said Tavis Smiley. “As the world continues to recover from the recession, Black America has the highest unemployment rates, was heavily impacted by the housing crisis and was hit hard by the credit crisis. These sessions are as timely today as they were when we started the tour two years ago.”

Work To Be Done

When it comes to financial goals, African Americans say paying monthly expenses (34 percent to 21 percent) and paying rent/mortgage (33 percent to 15 percent) are significantly more important to them than the overall general population responded. However, only 4 percent of African Americans say their most important goal is saving for retirement (compared to 18 percent of the general population).

Eighty nine percent of all Pittsburgh residents who plan to build up an emergency savings fund over the next 12 months and say they will continue to do so for the long term.

The free event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center is open to the public and will focus on economic empowerment and financial planning. It will feature a general session with Smiley as the keynote speaker and two informational seminars with breakout sessions for group participation, and provide other information – including financial basics, employment opportunities and more.

“As America continues to see the long-term impact of the Great Recession, our safety nets are slowly diminishing and consumers are becoming more aware that fiscal accountability and responsibility is up to them,” said Brian O’Dell, regional vice president for Nationwide’s Northeast Region. “Consumers are seeking financial information and tools to help them plan for today and prepare for tomorrow. We view our On Your Side Tour with Tavis Smiley as a way to help people help themselves and make a difference in communities like Pittsburgh.”

About the Survey
The online survey was conducted July-August 2010 by the Blackstone Group. A web panel was used to collect data. A total of 325 residents of Pittsburgh were split into two sample groups: general population, ages 18+ (200 people) and African American, ages 18+ (125 people). Significance testing was done at the 90% confidence level. Margin of error is +5.8% for the general population and +7.4% for the African American population.

About Tavis Smiley and The Smiley Group
From his celebrated conversations with world figures to his work to inspire the next generation of leaders, as a broadcaster, author, advocate and philanthropist, Tavis Smiley continues to be an outstanding voice for change. Smiley is currently the host of the late night television talk show Tavis Smiley on PBS and The Tavis Smiley Show from Public Radio International (PRI). TIME magazine honored Smiley in 2009 as one of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People.”

The Smiley Group, Inc. is a communications corporation established in support of human rights and related empowerment issues. TSG serves as the holding company for various enterprises encompassing broadcast and print media, lectures, symposiums and the Internet. For more information, visit www.tavistalks.com.

About Nationwide
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by A.M. Best. The company provides a full range of personalized insurance and financial services, including auto insurance, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life insurance, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Chicago, IL – September 29, 2010- With fewer people buying homes in the current market and more people renting it is no surprise that scammers are targeting renters more frequently. The Better Business Bureau urges consumers to be wary when looking through classified rental listings online.

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Typically, scammers search Web sites listing legitimate properties for sale, take the information in those ads and post it with their own e-mail address under the housing rentals category. Potential victims who see these ads and contact the “supposed homeowner” via e-mail may receive a response explaining that he or she had to leave the U.S. quickly because of some missionary, contract work in Africa or similar deceptive story. The potential renters are then asked to wire two months’ rent. When victims arrive at the property on the agreed-upon date they find the house or apartment is not for rent and its true owners know nothing about the agreement.

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“This is not a new scam, just a variation of an old one,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Scammers might also ask potential renters to fill out credit applications asking for personal information like credit history, social security numbers, and work history, leaving the would be victims open to identity theft and the double whammy of losing the rent down payment as well as having their financial information stolen.”

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In the past twelve months alone, there have been 267 complaints filed and more than 14,500 inquiries to the BBB about companies in the “Property Management” category.

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The BBB offers the following advice on how to avoid being victimized when looking to rent a home or apartment:

For more information on finding businesses you can trust, visit www.bbb.orgÂ

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Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Only deal with individuals and organizations who are local and visit the location you are interested in renting before paying any money or signing any contracts

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Be suspicious if you’re asked to only use a wire transfer service for rental payments

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Beware of e-mail correspondence from a potential “landlord” that’s written in poor English or doesn’t make complete sense

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Research the average rental rates in the area, and be suspicious if the rate is significantly lower

Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Visit as many homes or apartments as you can in order to have a better idea of what your money buys. It is also important to factor in the cost of living in the area as well

1.2 Million Minority Students Attend Institutions Impacted by Draft Rules

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Washington, D.C. (BlackNews.com) — African American civil rights, business and political leaders are opposing US Department of Education regulations that would limit access to career colleges for many minorities by cutting off federal loans and grants at some of the for-profit learning institutions.

Among those voicing concerns about the regulations are Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Founder/CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition; Willie Gary, one the nation’s leading trial lawyers; Harry Alford , President and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce; Randal Pinkett, Chairman and CEO of BCT Partners; and 12 of the 39 voting members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“There are widespread concerns that this regulation will have a devastating impact in African American communities, where black unemployment is nearly twice as high as whites,” said Milton Anderson, President of Virginia College’s branch in Jackson, Mississippi. “Schools, such as Virginia College, do an outstanding job teaching skills that are needed for promotions and new jobs. The government should not close the door to opportunities for people willing to learn additional skills and training that will help them better provide for themselves and their families.”

Mr. Anderson, who is a spokesman for the Coalition for Education Success, noted that 43 percent of the enrollment at career schools, or 1.2 million students, are minorities.

The so-called “Gainful Employment” rule would make entire programs ineligible for federal loans and grants if they fail to meet a broad new standard that has little to do with academic quality. The proposal would require all programs offered at career colleges and trade schools to meet a specific definition in order to qualify for federal student financial aid. It would base eligibility on the ratio of student debt to potential student income following graduation. It does not take into account that most students benefit from the long-term benefits of their careers and not just the immediate increase in income.

In a September 15 letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Rev. Jackson wrote that the Department’s approach will hinder the access of minority students to higher education and make it even more difficult to realize President Obama’s goal of leading the world in the percentage of college graduates by 2020.

“I am concerned that the proposed rule casts too broad and too general a brush on many institutions, some of whom are doing an excellent job at serving economically disadvantaged and minority students,” Rev. Jackson wrote. “For many of these historically underserved students, educational options must be more accessible than those that typically are offered by traditional higher education institutions if they are to be meaningful.”

Moreover, in an op-ed published in black newspapers this month, Mr. Gary maintained that it is “extremely disappointing” that the Education Department seeks to implement a policy that could cripple operations at career schools without adequately considering the negative impact on students who need these institutions. “The Education Department has proposed rules that will harm all the schools, and all the students who may want to attend these institutions,” Mr. Gary wrote. “This is bad public policy. Clearly, the Education Department’s approach is elitist, if not outright racist.”

Further, Mr. Gary asked why the restrictive regulations have not been proposed for the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges and universities or even at state colleges where students with the similar socioeconomic backgrounds have similar default rates on their student loans. “Instead, the proposed regulations are aimed at institutions whose the graduates don’t often become CEOs, doctors and lawyers,” Mr. Gary said. “Career schools produce nurses, auto mechanics, computer technicians and other skilled workers, whose services are often overlooked and devalued in our society.”

In a September 9 letter to Duncan, Mr. Pinkett wrote that the Education Department had ignored the positive role that career schools play in producing skilled workers for the nation’s businesses, and in channeling women, minorities and adults into better jobs with higher wages.

“Data show that 44% of career college students are in high-growth fields compared to only 18 percent for public colleges and universities and 13 percent for private institutions,” he wrote. “Seventy-six percent of career college students who completed an award program in 2005 were employed directly after graduation…How can the Department restrict access to this training when employers in the coming years will be depending even more on workers with the skills taught at career schools?” Clearly, career schools are making a difference in the lives of many African Americans.

Eric Brown, 44, recently retired from the Navy after 24 years. Mr. Brown, who lives in Hampton Roads, Va., attended job fairs on the East Coast, but was unable to find a suitable job – he was presented with opportunities to work for $10.50 to $12 an hour at Wal-Mart or Lowe’s. Now, he is learning computer skills at a career college in nearby Newport News.

“This is an opportunity to get training and learn skills that will help me find a good-paying job in this slow economy,” said Mr. Brown. “I was shocked that there were not more meaningful opportunities available for someone like me, who has spent most of his life working on behalf of his country. But now, because of a career school, I’m getting a second chance for a professional career in the private sector.”

(To arrange print or broadcast interviews regarding opposition to the proposed rule, please contact Michael K. Frisby, 202-625-4328, mike@frisbyassociates.com).About the Coalition for Educational Success
The Coalition for Educational Success includes many of the nation’s leading proprietary colleges, serving more than 200,000 students at over 300 campuses in 33 states. Our member schools deliver on what they promise – preparing students for work and then, through intensive career assistance and support, place almost three-quarters of their graduates immediately into jobs.

While working to improve understanding of the critical role of career schools in higher education and the workforce, the Coalition advocates for government policies that support wider access to higher education, particularly for non-traditional students – full-time workers, workforce returners, working parents, minorities, and veterans, among others – that depend most heavily on career colleges. More information is available at www.ed-success.org.

Chicago, ILÂ â€” Attorney General Lisa Madigan warns Illinois residents to be on the alert for scam artists preying on owners of vacation timeshares. The scammers are posing as timeshare resellers to deceive consumers out of thousands of dollars.

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Madiganâ€™s office has received dozens of complaints since January from timeshare owners targeted by the scammers.Â Â

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The con artists typically contact the owners by phone and claim theyâ€™ve found a buyer for their timeshare. Often the fake reseller provides the owners with legal-looking documents to make the potential sale seem real.

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If the owners express interest, the scammer tells them they must pay a refundable security deposit or fee to ensure that the sale goes through, and instructs them to wire money to an out-of-state bank account.

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As soon as the owners wire the money as directed, theyâ€™ve fallen victim to the scam. In most cases, by the time the owners realize theyâ€™ve been defrauded, the con artists have closed out their bank account, disconnected their phones and disappeared.

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Victims filing complaints with the Attorney Generalâ€™s Office have reported wiring as much as $5,000 to the scammers.

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In some versions of the scam, the con artists tell the owners theyâ€™ve found potential renters for their timeshare. In others, a person posing as a prospective buyer makes the initial call and urges the timeshare owners to contact the fake reseller immediately to complete the sale. Also, in some instances, the owners are asked to charge the security deposit to their credit card rather than transferring the money by wire.

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Many scammers briefly rent a P.O. Box or office suite as a business address, and in some cases create Web sites to trick consumers into believing they are legitimate.Â

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Seniors living on fixed incomes and persons suffering the effects of the economic downturn may be especially vulnerable to the scam, because they may view their seldom-used timeshares as a source of much-needed money. Attorney General Madigan cautioned that consumers should never assume they will recoup their purchase price for their timeshare, especially if they have owned it for less than five years and the location is less than well-known.

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The Attorney General offered these additional tips for consumers who are considering selling their timeshares:

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â— Donâ€™t agree to anything on the phone or online until youâ€™ve had a chance to check out the reseller. Contact the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) and the state Attorney General (www.naag.org) in the state where the reseller is located. Ask if any complaints are on file.

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â— Ask the salesperson for all information in writing. Under Illinois law, a timeshare reseller must enter into a listing agreement with the owner signed by both the owner and the reseller that discloses certain specified information, including the resale agentâ€™s contact information and the fees to be charged for the resale agentâ€™s services.Â

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â— Check with the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to confirm that the reseller is registered as a real estate agent, as required by Illinois law.

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â— Ask if the resellerâ€™s agents are licensed to sell real estate where your timeshare is located. If so, verify it with the state Real Estate Commission. Deal only with licensed real estate brokers and agents, and ask for references from satisfied clients.

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â— Ask how the reseller will advertise and promote the timeshare unit. Will you get progress reports? How often?

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â— Ask about fees and timing. Itâ€™s preferable to do business with a reseller that takes its fee after the timeshare is sold. If you must pay a fee in advance, ask about refunds. Get refund policies and promises in writing.

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Consumers can contact the Illinois Attorney Generalâ€™s office at www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov or by calling the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline:

Chicago, IL – Â When the curtain rises on the opening night performance of Candide, Goodman Theatre launches its 10th season in the heart of Chicagoâ€™s Theatre District established by Mayor Richard M. Daley.

More than two million patrons have experienced 127 productions and presentations from an aesthetic and culturally diverse group of artists and companiesâ€”including nearly 30 world premieres, of which 25 were new-work commissionsâ€”and programs over the past decade.

The two-theater Goodman complex, under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Falls (â€œChicagoâ€™s most essential director,â€ Chicago Tribune) and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, has served 21,500 students through Education and Community Engagement programs; employed 3,000 artists and theater professionals; hosted 25 visiting companies; produced 10 Playwright and International Festivals (made possible only through the addition of the 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Theatre); and earned a Pulitzer Prize, for Lynn Nottageâ€™s Ruined in 2009. The celebratory season marks the Goodmanâ€™s 85th as Chicagoâ€™s oldest and largest not-for-profit producing theater, and opens with the Leonard Bernstein musical Candide, directed and newly adapted by Manilow Resident Director Mary Zimmerman (through October 31). The Goodman is grateful for the generosity of its sponsors; see pages four and five for a complete list of Candide and 10th Anniversary Season supporters.

â€œWe are extremely proud of and grateful for what we have accomplished since moving into this beautiful venue for live theater,â€ said Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer. â€œTen years ago, we welcomed Chicago audiences into a thrilling new era in the Goodmanâ€™s long history of artistic excellence and visionary programming. What we have achieved since then could not have been possible without the leadership and generosity of Mayor Richard M. Daley, Albert Ivar Goodman, Edith Marie Appleton, the Board of Trustees, our artists, staff and our wonderful, loyal patrons. We salute our past and look ahead to a bright future in the heart of this great city.â€

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A DECADE OF ACHIEVEMENTÂ Â

2000 â€“ The Goodman relocates from its home of 75 years, adjacent to the Art Institute of Chicago, into a new, state-of-the-art two-theater (Albert Ivar Goodman and Owen Bruner Goodman theaters) complex on Dearborn Street; Inaugural events commence in November, with a November 9 Inaugural Address by Playwright August Wilson; on December 11, Wilsonâ€™s King Hedley II opened the new theater.

2001 â€“ The Goodman produces the American premiere of Alan Ayckbournâ€™s linked plays, House and Garden directed by Robert Falls, performed simultaneously by the same cast in both the Albert and Owen Theaters; Falls, who is named â€œChicagoan of the Yearâ€ by Chicago magazine, takes the helm of his first Rebecca Gilman play, Blue Surgeâ€”earning acclaim at the Goodman and subsequently off-Broadway; Associate Director Frank Galati helms the world premiere of The Visit, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb; Associate Producer Steve Scott helms the Chicago premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Wit by Margaret Edson; a new production of A Christmas Carol, built for the Albert Theatre, opens in November, directed by Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez.

2002 â€“ Famed director Harold Prince makes his Goodman Theatre debut with Hollywood Arms by Carrie Hamilton and Carol Burnett. The Goodman produces Fallsâ€™ major revival of Long Dayâ€™s Journey Into Night, featuring Brian Dennehy; the world premiere of Galileo Galilei, a new opera by Mary Zimmerman, Philip Glass and Arnold Weinstein.

2003 â€“ Time magazine names the Goodman the â€œnumber one regional theater in the U.S.â€; Long Dayâ€™s Journey Into Night, directed by Robert Falls, receives the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play; Resident Artistic Associate Henry Godinez inaugurates the Latino Theatre Festival which, over the next decade, will become a biennial event featuring the finest local, national and international Latino theater companies; the Goodman hosts the world premiere of August Wilsonâ€™s Gem of the Ocean and the world premiere of the Stephen Sondheim musical, Bounce.

2004 â€“ The Goodman hosts the Chicago premiere of The Light in the Piazza, which moved to Lincoln Center; produces its first Festival devoted to the works of an important American playwright: Edward Albee [subsequent Playwright Festivals in each year to follow include David Mamet (2006), August Wilson (2007), Horton Foote (2008) and Eugene Oâ€™Neill (2009)]; hosts the world premiere of Arthur Millerâ€™s play Finishing the Picture, as well as Regina Taylorâ€™s Crowns, which becomes one of the most produced plays in America, and Resident Director Chuck Smith helms the first all-African American cast of Proof by David Auburn.

2006 â€“ Robert Falls commemorates 20 years as Artistic Director with a ground-breaking interpretation of King Lear.

2007 â€“ The Goodman becomes the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilsonâ€™s Pittsburgh Cycle, chronicling the 20th Century African American experience, and celebrates 30 years of A Christmas Carol by welcoming the millionth ticket buyer.

2008 â€“ Ruined by Lynn Nottageâ€”a Goodman Theatre commission which earned the Pulitzer Prize for Dramaâ€”makes its world premiere in the Owen Theatre.

2009 â€“ The first-ever Global Exploration of Eugene Oâ€™Neill in the 21st Centuryâ€”including international, national and local theater companiesâ€”takes the stage of both theaters, anchored in the Albert by Fallsâ€™ production of Desire Under the Elms, which subsequently moved to Broadway.

2010 â€“ Acclaimed actor and director Philip Seymour Hoffman makes his Chicago directing debut with The Long Red Road by Brett C. Leonard; in July 2010, the Goodman will host the U.S. debut of Teatro BuendÃ­a, Cubaâ€™s acclaimed theater company, as part of the 5th Biennial Latino Theatre Festival.

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MILESTONES

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90 Awards. In the last decade, Goodman Theatre productions have received nearly 90 awards for theater excellence, including 11 Tony Awards, 12 Drama Desk Awards, 25 Jeff Awards and more than 30 honorsâ€”including the 2009 Pulitzer Prize, for the world premiere of Ruined by Lynn Nottage.

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127 productions and presentations, and 19 productions exported. The scale and flexibility of the theater’s two performance spaces (Albert Ivar Theatre and Owen Bruner Theatre) have made it possible for the Goodman to produce productions that can easily move to other venues, including Broadway. Highlights include Desire Under the Elms directed by Robert Falls; Ruined directed by Kate Whoriskey; Shining City directed by Robert Falls; King Lear directed by Robert Falls; Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky directed by Michael Wilson; Bounce directed by Harold Prince; Frank’s Home directed by Robert Falls; Hollywood Arms directed by Harold Prince; Galileo Galilei directed by Mary Zimmerman; The Light in the Piazza directed by Bartlett Sher; and The Amen Corner directed by Chuck Smith. The visibility of Goodman productions on international stages has helped to position Chicago as a world-class theater community.

Â Â·Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ticket Sales: 1.4 million subscription tickets sold/$40 million in revenue (375% increase in subs sales) and 600,000 single tickets/$20 million in revenue (260% increase in single ticket sales). The Goodman has been a driving force in Chicago’s economy, as the capacity of its new theaters has allowed for dramatic increases in subscription and single ticket sales over sales in the old building. Eighty-five percent of 5-play Subscribers renew on average each yearâ€”30% of whom have subscribed for more than 10 years.

New work: 29 world premieres, 25 new-work commissions. The Goodman is a leader in the development of new work, including: ATrue History of the Johnstown Flood by Rebecca Gilman (2010); The Long Red Road by Brett C. Leonard (2010); Ruined by Lynn Nottage (2009); Finishing the Picture by Arthur Miller (2004); Electricidad by Luis Alfaro (2004); Galileo Galilei by Mary Zimmerman and Philip Glass (2002); Drowning Crow by Regina Taylor (2001); Blue Surge by Rebecca Gilman (2001). Crucial to the development of new work is the New Stages Series, readings of new plays by up-and-coming and established playwrights. Among the works that began in New Stages is Lynn Nottage‘s Goodman-commissioned, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, Ruined.Â

Education: 21,500 students served. The new facility has enabled the Goodman’s Education and Community Engagement division to serve approximately 30% more students. These programs provide comprehensive outreach efforts, including: the free Student Subscription Series involving 2,700 Chicago public high school students each season and featuring free matinee performances, teacher training (including ten workshops throughout the year), classroom teaching aids including educational production/documentary videos, visits from artists and opportunities for students and parents to attend productions together; the General Theatre Studies Program, a six-week literacy intensive summer program that provides a process oriented introduction to theater for high schoolers; the Cindy Bandle Young Critics theater criticism program for young women; CONTEXT: Discourse and Discussion forums; backstage tours, public lectures and an Internship Program.

Nearly 60 corporate supporters.Goodman Theatre is fortunate to enjoy the support of nearly 60 companies annually in Chicago and beyond, generating more than a million dollars toward its annual operating budget. Among its major corporate sponsors, the Goodman has been proud to count the following, many of which have been partners for more than 20 years: Abbott; Allstate Insurance Company; American Express; Aon Corporation; Bank of America; The Boeing Company; Exelon Corporation/ComEd; Harris Bank; McDonald’s; Northern Trust; Katten Muchin Rosenman; KPMG; Kraft Foods; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Sara Lee Foundation; Target and UBS. American Airlines has been the longstanding Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

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Community Impact: 52 venues.In 2000, the Goodman conceived the Preferred Partner Program in collaboration with the finest Loop businesses to provide Goodman patrons and Subscribers with exclusive discounts. In the last decade, the Preferred Partner Program has featured 52 venues, including 27 restaurants, 14 caterers, 8 hotels, 2 private clubs and 1 linen company. The program averages approximately 12 restaurants and 3 caterers per season.

Â Sponsors for Goodman Theatreâ€™s 10th Anniversary Season and Candide

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Chase | J.P. Morgan

Lead Corporate Sponsor for Candide and Season Opening Celebration

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ComEd

Official Lighting Sponsor for CandideÂ

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Abbott

Corporate Sponsor Partner for Candide and Season Opening Celebration

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Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Corporate Sponsor Partner for Candide and Season Opening Celebration Guarantor

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Harris Bank

Patricia Cox

Albert and Maria Goodman

Vicki and Bill Hood/Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Carol Prins and John Hart

Susan and Bob Wislow

Season Opening Celebration Sponsor Partners

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Allstate Insurance Company

Susan and James Annable/Randy and Lisa White

Joan and Robert Clifford

Shawn M. Donnelley and Christopher M. Kelly

Leon and Joy Dreimann/Mr. Michael J. Silverstein

Exelon Corporation

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley M. Freehling

Sondra and Denis Healy/Turtle Wax, Inc.

Susan and Lewis Manilow

Northern Trust

Merle Reskin

William S. Richards, Jr.

Alice and John J. Sabl

Dia S. Edwards S. Weil, Jr.

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Season Opening Celebration Guarantors

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10th Anniversary Individual Support

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Â The Edith-Marie Appleton Foundation/Â

Albert and Maria Goodman

Patricia Cox

Shawn M. Donnelley and Christopher M. Kelly

Sondra and Denis Healy/Turtle Wax, Inc.

Alice Rapoport and Michael Sachs, Sg2

Merle Reskin

Season Sponsors

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Ruth Ann Gillis and Michael McGuinnis

Nancy Lauter McDougal and Alfred L. McDougal

Michael and Kay Oâ€™Halleran

Artistic Collective Sponsors

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10th Anniversary Institutional Support

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CORPORATE DONORS

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American Airlines

JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Season Sponsors

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Allstate Insurance Company

Harris Bank

Northern Trust

Target Corporation

Ovation Sponsors

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Abbott

ComEd

Katten Muchin Rosenmann LLP

Star Sponsors

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Aon Corporation

The Boeing Company

Chapman and Cutler LLP

Charter One Bank

Fifth Third Bank

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Macyâ€™s

Mayer Brown LLP

McDonaldâ€™s Corporation

Motorola Foundation

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Honorary Sponsors

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FOUNDATION DONORS

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The Chicago Community Trust

Edgerton Foundation

Julius N. Frankel Foundation

The Irving Harris Foundation

The Joyce Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Polk Bros. Foundation

The Shubert Foundation

Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust

Major Foundation Support

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GOVERNMENT DONOR

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Illinois Arts Council, a state agency

Major Government Support

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About Goodman Theatre

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Goodman Theatre has been internationally recognized for its artists, productions and programs since its founding in 1925. Celebrating 10 years in the North Loop Theatre District, Goodman Theatre is a major cultural, educational and economic pillar in Chicago. Named the nationâ€™s â€œBest Regional Theatreâ€ by Time magazine, Goodman Theatre has garnered hundreds of awards for artistic achievement and community engagement, including numerous Tony Awards and two Pulitzer Prizes. Under the leadership of artistic director Robert Falls and executive director Roche Schulfer,

Goodman Theatreâ€™s priorities include new plays, re-imagined classic productions, culturally specific work and musical theater. Over the past thirty years, the Goodman has produced more than 100 world or American premieres. Robert Fallsâ€™ contemporary versions Death of a Salesman, Long Dayâ€™s Journey into Night and King Lear have been celebrated nationally and internationally, along with his artistic collaboration with actor Brian Dennehy. Cultural diversity stands at the forefront of the Goodmanâ€™s mission; over the past two decades, one-third of Goodman productions have featured artists of color (including 21 world premieres) and the Goodman was the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilsonâ€™s 20th Century Cycle. Since 2003, the Latino Theatre Festival has been a biennial celebration of Latin theater companies from Chicago and around the globe. Over the past two decades, the Goodman has produced 25 musical theater works, including 10 world premieres. Each year Goodmanâ€™s numerous education and community engagement programs, including the highly praised Student Subscription Series, serve several thousand Chicago Public High School students. In addition, for 33 years the annual holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol has led to the creation of a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. Goodman Theatreâ€™s leadership includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Frank Galati, Henry Godinez, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, and Regina Taylor. The chairman of Goodman Theatreâ€™s Board of Trustees is Patricia Cox and Karen Pigott is President of the Womenâ€™s Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

Â Chicago, ILÂ â€” Floating World Gallery (FWG) presents â€œCreating What Has Never Beenâ€, an exhibition of Japanese post-war paintings and contemporary ceramics,at the galleryâ€™s Lincoln Park location, 1925 N. Halsted St., Sept. 24 to Nov. 19, 2010. The exhibition will showcase internationally renowned painters and contemporary ceramic artists known for the revolutionary quality of their artwork.

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The painting portion of the exhibition will feature masterpieces in Japanese post-war paintings by leading Gutai artist Imai Toshimitsu, along with his peers Sadamasa Motonaga, Soichiro Tomioka, Toko Shinoda and Genichiro Inokuma. Highlights include Motonagaâ€™s â€œUntitledâ€ work from 1963, previously exhibited at MOMAâ€™s 1965 watershed exhibition of Japanese post-war painting, as well as Toshimitsuâ€™s â€œSoleil Fonduâ€ from 1963, previously exhibited in the 1965 Sao Paulo Biennial.Â

The Gutai movement sought to break through the boundaries imposed by the international art establishment and to â€œcreate what has never beenâ€. The work from this movement has often been compared to that of American post-war abstract expressionist artists such as Jackson Pollock, Sam Francis, De Kooning and Franz Kline, some of whom worked side by side with their Japanese counterparts. For Gutai school artists, the artistic process was chance collaboration between physical action and material, leading into undiscovered worlds. Utilizing standard artistic mediums as well as unconventional materials, these post-war painters charted new ground in both the manner in which they produced art as well as the aesthetic of the finished work.

The ceramic portion of the exhibition will include works by acclaimed ceramic artist Fukami Sueharu and fellow contemporary artists Takagaki Atsushi, Maeta Akihiro, Sakurai Yasuko and Kako Katsumi, among others. In their drive to push beyond current artistic boundaries, these artists use traditional media but sculpt and shape them into forms completely untraditional in Japanese ceramic culture. They are on the cutting edge of contemporary Japanese ceramics and are some of the most sought after artists in the ceramic art world today.Â

Floating World Gallery, located in Chicagoâ€™s Lincoln Park neighborhood, takes its name from the English translation of â€œukiyo-eâ€, referring to images of an evanescent, impermanent world of fleeting beauty. The gallery has been one of the worldâ€™s leading dealers in Japanese art for more than 20 years, offering clients, private collectors and institutions the highest quality works of art. Floating World Gallery opened its new 8,200 square-foot gallery space in October 2009 and is now actively engaged in helping to educate the public and increase awareness of the rich world of modern Japanese art. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. and by appointment. For more information call 312-587-7800, fax 312-575-3565 or email artwork@floatingworld.com.

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Welcome to CopyLine Magazine! The first issue of CopyLine Magazine was published in November, 1990, by Editor & Publisher Juanita Bratcher. CopyLine’s main focus is on the political arena – to inform our readers and analyze many of the pressing issues of the day - controversial or otherwise. Our objectives are clear – to keep you abreast of political happenings and maneuvering in the political arena, by reporting and providing provocative commentaries on various issues. For more about CopyLine Magazine, CopyLine Blog, and CopyLine Television/Video, please visit juanitabratcher.com, copylinemagazine.com, and oneononetelevision.com. Bratcher has been a News/Reporter, Author, Publisher, and Journalist for 33 years. She is the author of six books, including “Harold: The Making of a Big City Mayor” (Harold Washington), Chicago’s first African-American mayor; and “Beyond the Boardroom: Empowering a New Generation of Leaders,” about John Herman Stroger, Jr., the first African-American elected President of the Cook County Board. Bratcher is also a Poet/Songwriter, with 17 records – produced by HillTop Records of Hollywood, California. Juanita Bratcher Publisher